Mulching apparatus

ABSTRACT

A system is disclosed for mulching material including a floor stand configured to secure a hand-manipulatable blower/vacuum mulching device in a position to receive material to be mulched, and a hopper having an end for receiving material to be mulched and an opposite end configured to be connected to an intake of the mulching device. A floor stand is disclosed which is operable to secure a hand-manipulatable blower/vacuum mulching device in an upright position. A floor stand may include a securing device pivotably engaged thereto, wherein the securing device is operable to removably engage and permit pivotable selective positioning of a hand-manipulatable blower/vacuum mulching device

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a divisional of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/714,895 filed Dec. 14, 2012 which claims the benefit of U.S.Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/570,648, filed Dec. 14, 2011,the entireties of which are incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of mulching devices. Morespecifically, it relates to a low-cost, environmentally friendlymulcher.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hand-manipulated electric blowers with vacuum/mulching features andattachments are convenient for most homeowners. The debris in flowerbeds and in other areas can be sucked up, mulched and distributed insoil and beds as desired, quickly and conveniently. However, somegardeners are reluctant to use such low cost, hand-manipulated electricblowers with vacuum/mulching features, because in vacuuming/mulchingmode, such devices suck up beneficial organisms and creatures whichdwell in the soil. Such an outcome is undesirable for these individuals.Moreover, vibrations from hand-manipulated blowers and vacuums can causehand numbness. In addition, a user is required to carry the mulch bagaround with them. One solution is for gardeners to use a stand-alonemulching device. Typical stand-alone mulching machines employ atop-loading hopper so that mulchable debris can be carefully loaded intothe device. However, these devices tend to be large and expensive, andinconvenient to move around, compared to the aforementionedhand-manipulated blowers with vacuum/mulching capability, whichtypically include accessories such as vacuum ducts and collection bags,and are generally available for about $70.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one embodiment a system is disclosed for mulchingmaterial including a floor stand configured to secure ahand-manipulatable blower/vacuum mulching device in a position toreceive material to be mulched, and a hopper having an end for receivingmaterial to be mulched and an opposite end configured to be connected toan intake of the mulching device. The end for receiving material to bemulched may be a funnel. The floor stand may be configured to secure ahand-manipulatable blower/vacuum mulching device in a position whereinthe intake of the mulching device is oriented in a directionsubstantially perpendicular to and facing away from the ground. Thefloor stand may include a securing device for releasably securing ahand-manipulatable blower/vacuum mulching device. An example of ahand-manipulatable blower/vacuum mulching device to be secured is onecommercially available from the Toro company as the “Ultra ElectricBlower Vac”, model number 51599.

In accordance with one embodiment the system may include a hopper havingat least one side which is substantially flat. In another embodiment thehopper may have at least one side which is substantially flat and have aleading edge which extends beyond a leading edge of an opposite side.The end of the hopper for receiving material to be mulched include anopening that is wider than an opening formed in the opposite endconfigured to be connected to an intake of the mulching device.

In accordance with another embodiment, the system may include a floorstand which includes a securing device pivotably engaged thereto,wherein the securing device is operable to removably engage and permitpivotable selective positioning of a hand-manipulatable blower/vacuummulching device. In another embodiment, the system may include areceptacle support to support a bag or other receptacle which catchesmulch from the mulching device. The support is useful in an embodimentin which the floor stand includes a pivotable securing device.

In another embodiment the system may include a floor stand whichincludes one or more switches electrically connected to an electricalpower source or cable operable to turn on and turn off ahand-manipulatable blower/vacuum mulching device. The floor stand mayinclude an electrical receptacle for receiving a power cable of ahand-manipulatable blower/vacuum mulching device, wherein the receptacleis electrically connected to a power cable for connecting to anelectrical supply.

In accordance with another embodiment a hopper is provided which isconfigured to connect to a hand-manipulatable blower/vacuum mulchingdevice, the hopper including an end for receiving material to be mulchedand an opposite end configured to be connected to an intake of themulching device wherein the end for receiving material to be mulchedincludes an opening that is wider than an opening formed in the oppositeend configured to be connected to an intake of the mulching device. Theend of the hopper for receiving material to be mulched may include afunnel.

In accordance with a further embodiment the hopper element is configuredas an intake chute, permitting the blower/vacuum mulcher to be laid onthe ground so that leaves may be swept or raked to the chute and fedinto the mulcher. The hopper may include a side which is substantiallyflat. The hopper may include a side which is substantially flat and aleading edge which extends beyond a leading edge of an opposite side.

In accordance with another embodiment a floor stand is provided which isconfigured to secure a hand-manipulatable blower/vacuum mulching devicein a position to receive material to be mulched. The floor stand may beconfigured to secure a mulching device in a position wherein the intakeof the mulching device is oriented in a direction substantiallyperpendicular to and facing away from the ground, i.e., in an uprightposition. The floor stand may include at least one securing device forreleasably securing a hand-manipulatable blower/vacuum mulching device.

In accordance with a further embodiment, a floor stand is provided inwhich the hand-manipulatable blower/vacuum mulching device is pivotablymountable, so that the hopper element may be moved from an uprightposition to a ground position efficiently and safely. The floor standmay include a securing device pivotably engaged thereto, wherein thesecuring device is operable to removably engage and permit pivotableselective positioning of a hand-manipulatable blower/vacuum mulchingdevice.

In another embodiment the floor stand may include at least one switchelectrically connected to an electrical power source or cable operableto turn on and turn off a hand-manipulatable blower/vacuum mulchingdevice. In a further embodiment the floor stand may include anelectrical receptacle for receiving a power cable of ahand-manipulatable blower/vacuum mulching device, wherein the receptacleis electrically connected to a power cable for connecting to anelectrical supply.

In accordance with one aspect, a gardener can use the apparatus in theblowing mode for general clean up and leaf collection, and use the samemachine to accomplish the mulching in an environmentally sensitivemanner, i.e., as a top-loading mulcher, rather than as a hand vacuum.

The disclosed apparatus are cost effective and portable, and moreconvenient and less costly than commercially available top-loadingmulchers.

Given above is a simplified summary in order to provide a basicunderstanding of some aspects described herein. This summary is not anextensive overview, and is not intended to identify key/criticalelements or to delineate the scope of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that those having ordinary skill in the art will have a betterunderstanding of how to make and use the disclosed systems and methods,reference is made to the accompanying figure wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a mulching apparatus and floor standaccording to one embodiment of the disclosed subject matter;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a mulching apparatus and floor stand inaccordance with one embodiment of the disclosed subject matter;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a mulching apparatus and floor stand inaccordance with one embodiment of the disclosed subject matter;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a hopper device in accordance with oneaspect of the disclosed subject matter;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a connection element of a hopper deviceof FIG. 4 in accordance with one aspect of the disclosed subject matter;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a mulching/blower device with anotherembodiment of a hopper element depicting an application in accordancewith one embodiment of the disclosed subject matter;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a mulching apparatus and pivoting floorstand in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosed subject matter;and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a mulching apparatus and pivoting floorstand in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosed subject matter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following is a detailed description of the invention provided to aidthose skilled in the art in practicing the present invention. Those ofordinary skill in the art may make modifications and variations in theembodiments described herein without departing from the spirit or scopeof the present invention. Unless otherwise defined, all technical andscientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonlyunderstood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this inventionbelongs. The terminology used in the description of the invention hereinis for describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to belimiting of the invention. All publications, patent applications,patents, figures and other references mentioned herein are expresslyincorporated by reference in their entirety.

Now referring to FIG. 1, a mulching apparatus 2 includes a floor stand10, mulching/blower device 20 and hopper 30.

The floor stand element 10 is operable and dimensioned to receive themulcher/blower device 20 such that the device 20 is stably and securelypositioned in a position as shown in FIG. 1. The floor stand 10 mayinclude a housing 11 including a channel 13 for receiving themulching/blower device and one or more securing devices such as clamps,clips, braces etc. for securing the mulching/blower device 20. Forexample, one or more spring clamps or clips 27 may be situated in thefloor stand 10 to securably and releasably engage the handle 26 of themulching/blower device.

The mulching/blower device 20 may be an existing device such as onecommercially available from the Toro company as the “Ultra ElectricBlower Vac”, model number 51599, situated in floor stand 10 as shown.The mulching/blower device 20 includes an inlet 22, outlet 24 and handle26. The mulching/blower device 20 typically may include a normalvariable speed switch, which, prior to installation of themulching/blower device 20 in the floor stand, may be set to the speeddesired. The mulching/blower device 20 also typically may include anon/off switch which may be used while the mulching/blower device 20 isin the stand 10. The mulching/blower device 20 also typically mayinclude a safety switch, which senses if the inlet guard (not shown), orthe inlet chute (see FIG. 2) is properly in place. This protectsoperators from the spinning blades of the impeller (not shown).

Hopper 30 may be configured as a funnel connectable to mulching/blowerdevice 20. Hopper 30 includes a receiving end 34 for receiving leavesand material to be mulched and mulcher attachment end 36.

Now referring to FIG. 2, the floor stand 10 may include a controlstation 12 with one or more switches, 14, 16 electrically connected toan electrical power source or cable operable to turn on and turn off themulching/blower device 20 when set up as a mulching apparatus 2. Thefloor stand 10 may further include an emergency stop switch electricallyconnected to an electrical power source or cable. The floor stand mayinclude an electrical receptacle 28 for receiving the power cable of themulching/blower device 20 electrically connected to a power cable 29 forplugging into an electrical supply.

An inlet chute 40 may be employed to connect the hopper 30 to themulching/blower device 20. In one embodiment the chute 40 is an existingchute that is an accessory of the mulching/blower device 20. Theapparatus 2 may further include a safety lock device 50, which may be anexisting safety lock device that is an accessory of the mulching/blowerdevice 20. In one example, the chute 40 and safety lock device 50 areaccessories of the same mulching/blower device 20, such as the “UltraElectric Blower Vac”, model number 51599 available from Toro. It will beapparent to those skilled in the art that the length of the chute 40 maybe any suitable length. Chute 40 may include connector 42 which iscomplementary to connector 32 of hopper 30 as further exemplified inFIGS. 4 and 5.

Now referring to FIG. 3, floor stand 10 may include a housing 11,channel 13 in which the mulching/blower device 20 may be engaged andfeet 15. The handle 26 may be slidably and securably engaged in channel13. Floor stand 10 may include on/off switch 14 and variable speedcontrol operably linked to the corresponding controls of themulching/blower device 20.

Apparatus 2 may further include a collection container 60 connectable tooutlet 24. The collection container 60 may be an existing collectiondevice that is an accessory of the mulching/blower device 20, such asthe bag of the “Ultra Electric Blower Vac”, model number 51599 availablefrom Toro. The collection device 60 may be a flexible or rigid materialand made of any suitable material.

Now referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, hopper 30 may include connector 32 whichis complementary to a connector 42 of a chute 40 or similar connector onthe mulching/blower device 20.

In practice, an operator of the apparatus 2 sets up the mulching/blowerdevice 20 in the floor stand 10, attaches the hopper 30 to themulching/blower device 20, turns on the power and deposits material tobe mulched into the hopper. Mulch is ejected from the outlet 24 and maybe captured in receptacle 60.

Now referring to FIGS. 6-8, another embodiment of the hopper element 30is depicted. The hopper element 30 is configured as an intake chute,permitting the blower/vacuum mulcher 20 to be laid on the ground so thatleaves may be swept or raked to the chute-like hopper 30 and fed intothe mulcher 20. In this embodiment no floor stand is required.Preferably, hopper 30 includes a substantially flat, ground-facing side31 having a leading edge 33 which extends beyond a leading edge 37 of aside 35 opposite the ground-facing side 31. Hopper 30 may have areceiving end 34 having an opening formed therein which is wider thanthe opening formed in mulcher attachment end 36. In practice, anoperator attaches the hopper 30 to the mulching/blower device 20 andlays the apparatus 2 on the ground, for example, adjacent a leaf pile100, turns on the power and rakes or blows (suing for example blower120) material to be mulched into the hopper 30. Mulch is ejected fromthe outlet 24 and may be captured in receptacle 60.

Now referring to FIG. 7, floor stand 10 may further include a pivotingsecuring device such as a clamp, clip, brace etc. for securing themulching/blower device 20 so that it may be selectively positioned. Forexample, clamp 19 may be positioned in channel 13 and rotatablyconnected to housing 11 such as by pin 18. Clamp 19 may be adjustable inthe manner of a vise to securely and releasably engage the body ofmulcher 20. Pin 18 may be equipped with a tensioning knob or set screwto secure clamp 19 in a desired position, such as the “down”, “up”,vertical or another intermediate position. Alternatively, an adjustmentdevice such as a ratchet and pawl device, pin and hole adjustment deviceor the like may be employed to permit selective positioning of the clamp19. For example, FIG. 7 depicts the clamp 19 positioned to orient thehopper 30 in a “down” position. Now referring to FIG. 8, the clamp 19 ispositioned to orient the hopper 30 in an “up” position. In oneembodiment the clamp 19 is rotatable to permit the hopper 30 to beplaced in an upright position, perpendicular to the ground.

To facilitate the efficient capture of mulched material, a receptaclesupport 70 may be provided to support receptacle 60. Receptacle support70 may be integral with floor stand 10 as shown.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,735,188; 5,535,479; RE 36,627; 5,689,852 and 6,003,199are incorporated by reference herein in their entireties.

Although the apparatus and methods of the present disclosure have beendescribed with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, the presentdisclosure is not limited thereby. Indeed, the exemplary embodiments areimplementations of the disclosed systems and methods are provided forillustrative and non-limitative purposes. Changes, modifications,enhancements and/or refinements to the disclosed systems and methods maybe made without departing from the spirit or scope of the presentdisclosure. Accordingly, such changes, modifications, enhancementsand/or refinements are encompassed within the scope of the presentinvention.

What is claimed is:
 1. A hopper configured to connect to ahand-manipulatable blower/vacuum mulching device, the hopper comprisingan end for receiving material to be mulched and an opposite endconfigured to be connected to an intake of the mulching device whereinthe end for receiving material to be mulched comprises an opening thatis wider than an opening formed in the opposite end configured to beconnected to an intake of the mulching device.
 2. The hopper accordingto claim 1 wherein the end for receiving material to be mulchedcomprises a funnel.
 3. The hopper according to claim 1 comprising a sidewhich is substantially flat.
 4. The hopper according to claim 1comprising a side which is substantially flat and a leading edge whichextends beyond a leading edge of an opposite side.
 5. A floor standconfigured to secure a hand-manipulatable blower/vacuum mulching devicein a position to receive material to be mulched.
 6. The floor standaccording to claim 5 configured to secure a hand-manipulatableblower/vacuum mulching device in a position wherein the intake of themulching device is oriented in a direction substantially perpendicularto and facing away from the ground.
 7. The floor stand according toclaim 5 comprising at least one securing device for releasably securinga hand-manipulatable blower/vacuum mulching device.
 8. The floor standaccording to claim 5 comprising a securing device pivotably engagedthereto, wherein the securing device is operable to removably engage andpermit pivotable selective positioning of a hand-manipulatableblower/vacuum mulching device.
 9. The floor stand according to claim 5comprising at least one switch electrically connected to an electricalpower source or cable operable to turn on and turn off ahand-manipulatable blower/vacuum mulching device.
 10. The floor standaccording to claim 5 comprising an electrical receptacle for receiving apower cable of a hand-manipulatable blower/vacuum mulching device,wherein the receptacle is electrically connected to a power cable forconnecting to an electrical supply.